Midweek football round-up: Curzon move up to third

Curzon Ashton moved up to third in the National League North table on Tuesday after a 2-0 win away to strugglers Marine. 

Visitors Curzon came close to opening the scoring on the 20-minute mark when Will Hayhurst clipped a cross in towards Stefan Mols, but the Spaniard could only steer his header wider of the post. 

Just after the break, The Nash were awarded a penalty when winger Mike Afuye was brought down inside the box. 

This was coolly dispatched by Stefan Mols, who sent the goalkeeper the wrong way and put his side ahead. 

Craig Mahon’s side then doubled their lead ten minutes from time when a perfectly weighted lob from substitute David Worrall flew over goalkeeper Matty Corran and dropped underneath the crossbar to seal the win. 

"It was a really professional away performance,” Curzon manager Craig Mahon told the club’s YouTube channel. 

“It’s always a tough game when you come to places like this. They made it difficult for us in the first half and we struggled to break them down. 

“They made quite a few changes towards the end of the half which suited us- it allowed the likes of Stefan (Mols), Mikey (Afuye) and Isaac (Buckley-Ricketts) to show their quality. 

“I said it a couple of weeks ago- good teams find a way to win, and I think we did that tonight.” 

Curzon will have the chance to go top of the National League North in the coming weeks should they win their game in hand on league leaders Chorley, who they currently trail by two points.  

Elsewhere, Stalybridge Celtic made it through to the next round of the Manchester Premier Cup on Tuesday with a 2-1 win over National League North side Radcliffe. 

The victory was the perfect way to bounce back from Saturday’s 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Nantwich Town. 

Hosts Celtic were handed an opportunity to open the scoring just past the half-hour mark when winger Navid Nasseri was brought down in the penalty area by Radcliffe defender Ethan Smyth. 

But Celtic striker Joe Duckworth was unable to convert the resulting spot kick, with goalkeeper Matt Hewelt diving to his right to keep out what was a rather tame effort. 

Duckworth had another golden opportunity to open the scoring moments later, latching onto a pass from Jack Irlam and firing the ball straight at the goalkeeper from just inside the penalty area, only for his blushes to be spared by the linesman’s raised flag. 

Two quickfire goals before the break then put the home side in control, with Jack Irlam beating the offside trap and firing home from close range before captain Liam Tongue curled in a wonderful left footed effort from the edge of the box to double his side’s lead. 

Visitors Radcliffe managed to pull one back in the second half after a loose pass allowed winger Lucas Weaver to run in on goal and slot the ball calmly past James McClenaghan, but the goal was too little too late, and it was Jon Macken’s side who made it through. 

“I’m delighted,” Macken told the Reporter following the win. 

“They’re a great side. They probably didn’t put out a full-strength team but we still had to turn up and put on a performance, and I think we did that. 

“We showed great desire and energy which was really pleasing, and played some great football at times.” 

A Tameside derby awaits Celtic in the next round, as they host Curzon Ashton. 

Mossley built on their fantastic result at the weekend with a 2-0 win at home to relegation threatened City of Liverpool on Tuesday. 

David Fish’s men took the lead early on through Bailey Marsden before Obua Mugalula sealed the win 10 minutes from time. 

The win lifts the Lilywhites up to eighth in the Northern Premier League West table, ahead of Saturday’s trip to Wythenshawe. 

And finally, Glossop North End followed up Saturday's win over Longridge Town on Tuesday with a hard earned point away to FC St Helens.

Keaton Mulvey opened the scoring for Glossop after just seven minutes before Joseph Barker levelled for the hosts moments later.

The point sees the Hillmen sit 15th in the table ahead of yet another away trip this weekend, this time they take on fourth placed Lower Breck.